Adjustable vehicle-spring



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. s. HULINGS. ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SPRING. No. 603,955. Patented May 10, .1898.

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JOSEPH HULINGS, OF PARKERS LANDING, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,955, dated May 10, 1898.

Application filed October 6, 1897.

and useful Adjustable Vehicle-Spring, of

which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in adjustable vehicle-springs.

The object of the present invention is to provide for vehicles a simple and comparatively inexpensive body-supporting spring which will be capable of ready adjustment without the use of tools to vary its tension and adapt it to the load of the vehicle, so as to render it resilient with a light load and increaseits stiffness when subjected to a heavy load.

parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a reverse plan view of a vehicle-body provided with an adj ustable spring constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the hangers of the spring. Fig. 4; is a detail view of the central portion of the spring, illustrating the manner of engaging the arms of the rock-shafts with the spring. Fig. 5 is a reverse plan view of avehicle-body, illustrating a modification of the invention and showing a different means for engaging the arms of the rockshafts with the central portion of the spring. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. central connection. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of theswinging links of the central connection.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts inthe several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a spring consisting, preferably, of a rod of resilient material disposed longitudinally of the body 2 of a vehicle and adjustably connected at its terminals to the same, whereby its intermediate portion or that part between the connections may be varied in length to regulate its strength and re- The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the Serial No. 654,243. (No model.)

siliency and adapt it for supporting light and heavy loads. Each end of the spring 1, which may be disposed transversely of avehicle instead of longitudinally, is provided at its lower face with a series of notches 3, adapted to engage a supporting loop or stirrup at, which receives the spring and which is adjustably connected with a hanger 5. The hanger 5, which is disposed longitudinally of the spring,

consists of ahorizontal body portion provided with recesses 6 and upwardly-extending arms located at the ends of the body portion and suitably secured to the vehicle-body. The horizontal body portion of the hanger is offset from the bottom of the vehicle-body,and

the supporting loop or shackle may be quickly and conveniently shifted from one notch to another without the employment of tools to bring it at any point along the hanger. Instead of forming the notchesas illustrated in the accompanying drawings they may be constructed in any other suitable manner, such as by recessing the frame and forming projections on the hanger or the like.

The central portion of the springis engaged by arms 7 of rock-shafts 8, journaled on the lower face of the body of the vehicle at points equidistant from the ends thereof and pro vided at their outer ends with outwardly-extending arms 9, located at the side edges of the body of the vehicle a sufficient distance beyond the same to permit the body to clear them when loaded. The outwardly-extending arms 9 are fulcrumed on front and rear transverse bars 10 and 11 of the running-gear and the arms 7, which extend inward from the centers of the rock-shafts, may be constructed in the form of loops, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, or solid arms can be employed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The central arms 7 engage the upper face of the spring 1 when the body of the vehicle is depressed, and in order to prevent the spring from becoming worn by the central arms rubof the block, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings. The central block 13, which is interposed between the antifriction-rollers, forms a stop, and the pro-- jecting portions of the guide-plate extend over the rollers and are adapted when the vehicle is subjected to a load at any point to force both of the arms downward, whereby the body of the vehicle will always be maintained in a horizontal position no matter at what point a load or strain is applied.

Instead of employing the rollers and the guide for movably connecting or engaging the central arms with the spring and for relieving the latter of friction the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, may be used. The solid arms 7 n are provided at their ad jacent ends with depending perforated ears 16, which are located at opposite sides of the spring and which extend below the same. The ends of the perforated ears 16 are pivoted by bolts or other suitable fastening devices 17 to depending links or stirrups 18, which straddle the spring and bear upon a central block 19. The central block 19 is clipped to the spring and is provided at its upper face, at opposite sides of the clip, with bearing-recesses receiving rollers 20 at the tops of the links or stirrups 18. The links or stirrups, which are substantially rectangular, are open at their lower ends and have their top connecting portions rounded to form the rollers or journals 20, which rest in'the bearings of the central block. When the vehiclebody is subjected to a load or strain, the links swing apart and the spring is forced downward, the operation being substantially the same as that of the construction illustrated i in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

It will be seen that the invention possesses the following advantages: The spring is capable of ready adjustment to lengthen and shorten it and the adjustment may be effected the desired notches. The central arms of the rock-shaft are connected with the spring in such manner that they are simultaneously forced downward when the body is subjected at any point to a load or strain. and the body I remains in a horizontal position at all times. The connection between the central arms of the rock-shafts and the spring is such that the latter is relieved of friction and is not subjected to any wear at that point.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body, of rock-shafts journaled thereon and provided with oppositelydisposed arms extending outward and inward, the outer arms being designed to be supported upon the runningear, a spring supporting the inwardly-extending arms of the rock-shafts and provided at its ends with notches, hangers mounted on the body at the ends of the spring and provided with corresponding notches, and adjustable loops or stirrups depending from the hangers and receiving the ends of the spring and adapted to engage the said notches, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body, of rock-shafts j ournaled thereon and provided with oppositelydisposed arms extending outward and in ward, the outer arms being designed to be supported upon the running-gear, a spring supporting the inner arms of the rock-shafts, and means for adjustably connecting the ends of the spring withthe body of the vehicle,whereby the distance between the points of connection may be varied, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body, of rock-shafts journaled thereon and provided with oppositelydisposed arms extending inward and outward, and means for movably engaging the inner arms of the rock-shaft with the spring and for permitting such arms to move longitudinally of the spring and for relieving the latter of friction, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body, of rock-shafts journaled thereon and provided with inwardlyextending arms, a spring, and rollers connected with the arms and engaging the spring, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body, of rock-shafts journaled thereon and provided with arms, rollers journaled on the arms, a spring engaged by at any time without the use of any tools by I simply pressing the ends of the spring upward and slipping the loops or stirrups 4 into i the rollers, and a guide mounted on the spring, extending over the rollers and adapted to cause the arms to operate simultaneously,substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body, of rock-shafts journaled thereon and provided with arms, rollers mounted on the arms, a spring engaged by the rollers, a block mounted on the spring and interposed between the rollers, and a guide-plate secured to the block and projecting therefrom over the rollers, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH s. HU'LINGS.

Witnesses:

J NO. A. BENNETT, W. E. McOoMBs. 

